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LGBT+ Liberal Democrats

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LGBT+ Liberal Democrats is a British lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other sexual minorities equality group of the Liberal Democrats political party. The organisation is one of several Specified Associated Organisations, giving it special status within the party, and has been referred to as one of the "most important" of such groups.[3][4] The group campaigns both within the party and UK-wide on LGBT+ issues, as well as mentoring and providing advice to the party's candidates.[5]

LGBT+ Liberal Democrats
PresidentLayla Moran[1]
ChairpersonCharley Hasted (Jan 2023 – present)
Founded1988[2]
Ideology
PositionCentre to centre-left
Mother partyLiberal Democrats
Websitehttp://lgbt.libdems.org.uk/

Formation and early years

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Initially known as Democrats for Lesbian & Gay Action, or DELGA for short, the organisation was formed in 1988 from the groups "Liberal Lesbian & Gay Action" and "Social Democrats for Lesbian & Gay Action". The parent parties of those organisations, the Liberal Party and SDP, had merged to form the Social and Liberal Democrats, known generally as the Democrats.[6] The name was officially altered to be Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Action in 1996, including bisexual and transgender people in the title and reflecting the renaming of the party to the Liberal Democrats. However, the shorthand DELGA remained in use until 2011, when the organisation renamed to "LGBT+ Liberal Democrats".[7]

One of the early campaigns by the group was "16 or bust". Started in 1991, it pushed to lower the age of consent for sex between gay men from 21 to 16, equal with heterosexual couples. This was in contrast to the approach of organisations such as Stonewall who were in favour of lowering the age to 18, seeing it as an achievable compromise.[2] Although the first round of votes in parliament only lowered the age of consent to 18, it was finally brought in line with opposite-sex couples in 2000.[8]

Policy successes

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Because LGBT+ Liberal Democrats is recognised as a Specified Associated Organisation of the Liberal Democrat party it is able to put forward policy motions to the twice-yearly Federal Conference, the main democratic policy making forum of the party.

Motions accepted for debate and passed into party policy have included:

  • 2011: "Science Not Stigma" motion on blood donation rules in the UK.[9]
  • 2010: "Equal Marriage in the United Kingdom" motion on the introduction of same-sex marriage.[10]
  • 2008: "Deportation to States which Persecute on the Grounds of Sexuality and Gender Identity" on treatment of LGBT asylum seekers.[11]
  • 1988: Repeal of Section 28, Criminalisation of incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation, prohibition of legal and social discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.[12]

Fringe events

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LGBT+ Liberal Democrats runs a series of fringe events discussing various topic issues at Liberal Democrat conference each year,[13] including regular joint fringes with LGBT+ campaigning organisation Stonewall.[14]

Events at a joint 2011 fringe received widespread coverage after then Stonewall Chair, Ben Summerskill stated that his organisation did not support equal marriage and that he believed it would cost £5 billion to implement. The statement resulted in critical comments from prominent campaigner Peter Tatchell[15] and openly gay Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Gilbert, who stated "it should not be up to me as a member of parliament to lobby Stonewall on equal rights. It should be Stonewall lobbying me".[16] The controversy later caused a split within Stonewall itself, following further criticism from founder members Ian McKellen and Michael Cashman.[17]

2013 apologies

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In 2013, both G4S and TalkTalk were forced to apologise to the organisation, following separate incidents. In the first incident G4S, who provided conference security, had insisted on checking banners being carried by members of the group for "potentially offensive campaign material".[18] Three months later, TalkTalk issued an apology after their web filter classified the organisation's web site as pornographic.[19][20]

Views on MPs

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Tim Farron

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Many members of the group, while denying that former party leader Tim Farron is a homophobe,[21] have been openly critical of his answers to questions about his views on the sinfulness of gay sex during the 2017 general election, viewing it as a distraction from the party's pro-LGBT record.[22] Former head of the LGBT+ Liberal Democrats Chris Cooke made unsubstantiated complaints to the party about Farron's personal conduct when "drunk", and admitted that he "made up a story to cause trouble" following his suspension over Twitter comments directed at Conservative MP Anna Soubry.[23]

Farron's continued fraternisation with evangelical anti-'gay lobby' groups has been seen by the LGBT+ Liberal Democrats as a lapse of judgement, with them asking him to apologise for a "lack of care" shown to the LGBT community.[24]

Phillip Lee

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On 3 September 2019, Conservative MP Phillip Lee joined the Lib Dems in opposition to Brexit.[25]

Moments after he had defected, LGBT+ Liberal Democrat chair Jennie Rigg along with the vice chair, executive members and several other activists left the party in opposition to Lee's views on same-sex marriage and his previous campaign to bar people with HIV from being able to come to the UK.[26]

A subsequent meeting took place between Lee and the LGBT+ Lib Dems at their annual conference to discuss his views.[27]

Having previously said "Marriage should be left to the churches and the redefinition of marriage simply required more debate and consultation",[28] Lee later insisted that his views on LGBT+ rights and had been misrepresented, stating that he was right to abstain on the same-sex marriage vote because it was a "liberal" choice and part of a "nuanced argument".[29]

Executive committee

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The oversight of the LGBT+ Liberal Democrats is managed by its Officers and Executive Members. The executive committee, consisting of members elected by the party's membership, individuals co-opted by the Executive, and representatives from other Liberal Democrat affiliated organisations, is tasked with this responsibility. The present Executive assumed their roles on 1 January 2023.[30]

2023 Executive committee

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Source:[30]

Executive Officers

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  • Chair: Charley Hasted
  • Vice-Chair: Gareth Lewis Shelton
  • Treasurer: Alan Collins Rosell
  • Secretary: Charlie Campion

Executive Members

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There are seven elected members and up to three co-opted members.

  • Luke Allan
  • Em Dean
  • Andy Hinton
  • Caron Lindsay
  • Katharine Macy
  • Rachel-lee Mackenzie
  • Jennie Rigg
  • Lucy Tonge

Previous chairs

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  • Charley Hasted (Jan 2023 – present)
  • Gareth Lewis Shelton (Sept 2020 – Dec 2022)
  • Dave Page (Sept 2019 – June 2020)[31]
  • Jennie Rigg (Feb 2017 – Sept 2019)[32]
  • Chris Cooke (Jan – Feb 2017)[33]
  • Adrian Trett (2016)
  • Dave Page (2015)[32]
  • Ed Fordham (2014)[34]
  • Adrian Trett (July 2010 – 2013)[35]
  • Benji Starr (Jan – Jun 2010)
  • Jen Yockney (2007–2009)[36]
  • Kelvin Meyrick (2006)[37]
  • Richard Porter (2005)[38]
  • Alison Wheeler (2004)
  • Denys Robinson (2003)
  • Hannah Kaitlin-Boyer (2001–2002)
  • Jonathan Simpson (1998–2000)
  • Mark Baker (1998)
  • Brian Stone (1989)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Honorary Positions". LGBT+ Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b Rayside, David Morton (1998). On the Fringe: Gays and Lesbians in Politics. Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801483745.
  3. ^ Russell, Andrew; Fieldhouse, Edward (2005). Neither Left Nor Right: The Liberal Democrats and the Electorate. Manchester University Press. ISBN 9780719066016.
  4. ^ Dawson, Heather (2003). Using the Internet for Political Research: Practical Tips and Hints. Elsevier. ISBN 9781780630595.
  5. ^ Deans, David (6 January 2015). "Openly gay Rhondda MP Chris Bryant expresses 'shock and surprise' at claims there are Assembly Members reluctant to come out". Wales Online.
  6. ^ Pack, Mark (13 April 2009). "The Alliance: a chronology".
  7. ^ "AGM outcome a plus". LGBT+ Liberal Democrats. 17 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Q and A: The age of consent". BBC News. 29 November 2000.
  9. ^ "Conference Daily 2011" (PDF). Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Conference Agenda" (PDF). Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Conference Agenda and Directory" (PDF). Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Gay & Lesbian Rights". Archived from the original on 9 November 1999. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  13. ^ "LGBT+ Lib Dems guide to Conference". LGBT+ Liberal Democrats. 17 September 2011.
  14. ^ "Party Conferences 2014". Stonewall.
  15. ^ "Stonewall undermines campaign for gay marriage". Peter Tatchell. 21 September 2010. Archived from the original on 4 January 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  16. ^ Mulholland, Hélène (21 September 2010). "Liberal Democrats back same-sex marriage motion". Guardian.
  17. ^ Milmo, Cahal (2 October 2010). "Stonewall is split by row about same-sex marriages". Independent.
  18. ^ Wheeler, Brian (17 September 2013). "Lib Dem conference: G4S apology to gay rights activists". BBC News.
  19. ^ "Official Lib Dem LGBT website blocked by TalkTalk's 'porn filter'". Pink News. 20 December 2013.
  20. ^ Roberts, Scott (20 December 2013). "TalkTalk apologises for using 'porn filter' to block access to Lib Dem LGBT website". Pink News.
  21. ^ Mason, Chris (18 July 2015). "Tim Farron's religious convictions leave some Lib Dems fretting". BBC News. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  22. ^ Braidwood, Ella (18 September 2018). "Lib Dems mock Tim Farron's views on gay sex in singalong". PinkNews. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  23. ^ Mortimer, Caroline (18 June 2017). "Tim Farron subject of false allegations by former Lib Dem LGBT activist". The Independent. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  24. ^ Duffy, Nick (10 May 2018). "Tim Farron faces Lib Dem anger over event criticising 'gay lobby'". PinkNews. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  25. ^ "The moment Tory MP defects to Lib Dems" – via www.bbc.com.
  26. ^ "Lib Dem LGBT chair quits party after it lets Tory MP with poor gay rights record join". The Independent. 3 September 2019.
  27. ^ Ashton, Emily. "New Lib Dem MP Phillip Lee Will Meet LGBT Members To Try To Head Off A Revolt". BuzzFeed.
  28. ^ Miller, Laura (15 February 2013). "Dr Phillip Lee: Why I abstained from Gay Marriage Vote". BerkshireLive.
  29. ^ "Lib Dem defector Phillip Lee really wants you to know he's not a homophobe". 17 September 2019.
  30. ^ a b "Executive - LGBT+ Liberal Democrats". lgbt.libdems.org.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  31. ^ "Dr Phillip Lee: Why is the party's LGBT+ group angry?". LGBT+ Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  32. ^ a b O'Connell, Zoe (4 December 2014). "LGBT+ Liberal Democrats elect new chair and executive". LGBT+ Liberal Democrats.
  33. ^ "Liberator 384" (PDF). Liberator.
  34. ^ "The votes are in – LGBT+ Lib Dems 2014". LGBT+ Liberal Democrats. 12 November 2013.
  35. ^ "New Team for 2013". LGBT+ Liberal Democrats. 1 January 2013.
  36. ^ "DELGA Newsletter" (PDF). DELGA. September 2007.
  37. ^ "New DELGA committee for 2006". DELGA. 1 January 2006.
  38. ^ "New chair for DELGA". DELGA. 3 January 2005.
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